Precast concrete step construction



Nov. 8, 1955 J. H. SUMMERS 2,722,823

PRECAST CONCRETE STEP CONSTRUCTION I Filed March 29, 1952 nur m.

INVENTOR. (James H Summers.

ATTOR Y.

United States Patent PRECAST CONCRETE STEP CONSTRUCTION James H. Summers, Youngstown, Ohio Application March 29, 1952, Serial No. 279,379

1 Claim. (Cl. 72-96) This invention relates to steps and more particularly to precast concrete units for interlocking engagement in forming a step construction.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a precast concrete step construction including a plurality of registering parts capable of being economically formed and easily assembled.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a precast concrete step construction in which the various portions space and brace one another to form a rigid assembly.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a precast concrete step construction wherein each of the several precast parts are locked together in the final assembly.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a precast concrete step construction in which the majority of the interengaging and locking portions of the parts are concealed in the final assembly.

The precast concrete step construction disclosed herein comprises an improvement in the art in that a well appearing, rigid step construction may be easily assembled from interengaging precast parts and which step construction, in assembled form, will closely resemble a unitary step construction and at the same time offer the advantages of economical construction and rapid assembly.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being the intention to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of several precast portions of a step construction in partially assembled relation and with parts broken away.

Figure 2 is a detail of one of the tread portions illustrating its position and locking to the side sections of the step assembly.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail on an enlarged scale showing the means locking the tread portion to the side portion.

Figure 4 is a cross section taken on line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a top plan of the side sections of the step assembly showing tensioning means therebetween.

By referring to the drawings and Figures 1 and 2 in particular it will be seen that the precast concrete step construction includes a pair of spaced side sections and 11, respectively, each of which has a plurality of horizontal and vertical surfaces forming its uppermost and foremost edge in a step pattern, the horizontal portions being generally indicated by the numeral 12 and the vertical portions being generally indicated by the 2 V numeral 13. The vertical front surfaces 13 are flat and unbroken and the horizontal top surfaces 12 are provided with transversely extending notches 14, each of which is in turn formed with oppositely disposed undercut grooves 15 on their vertical side sections.

The inner surfaces of the side sections 10 are also provided with vertically extending grooves 16. The trans versely extending notches 14 provide for the reception of portions of treads 17 and specifically rod-like extensions 18 which extend longitudinally from a depending elongated rib 19 on the bottom of each of the treads 17. The rod-like extensions 18 are preferably metal and form part of the reinforcing material included in each of the tread portions 17. The side sections 10 may also be reinforced with suitable metal mesh if desired.

The vertically extending grooves 16 on the inner sides of each of the side sections 10 and 11 are adapted to receive tongues 20 forming part of the end formation of each of a plurality of risers 21 which, as best illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings, are formed with curving end portions which overlie the corners of the sides It and the front vertical surfaces 13 thereof. The risers 21 as well as their curving end sections 22 are reinforced with metal mesh 23, as shown in the middle riser of Figure 1, and it will be observed that the risers 21 in position are so formed that they engage the inner, outer and front surfaces of the side sections 10.

In assembling the step construction, the side sections 10 are positioned in spaced relation, as shown in Figures 2 and 5 and secured to one another by tensioning rods 24 which include turnbuckles 25 and the ends of which engage eyelets 26 cast into the sides 10 and 11. The sides are preferably assembled on a suitable base which has been prepared for the steps and the risers 21 are then installed by sliding the same downwardly so that the tongues 20 and the curving end sections 22 engage the vertical grooves 16 and the outer and front portions of the side sections, as heretofore described.

When the risers 21 are installed, the tread portions 17 are then positioned thereover, as shown in the uppermost part of Figure l, with the rod-like extensions 18 lying in the notches 14. Keys 27 are then inserted with their edge portions engaging the oppositely disposed undercut grooves 15. It will be observed by referring to Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings that the lower surfaces of the keys 27 are tapered so that a firm engagement is effected between the keys 27 and the rods 18 thus holding the treads 17 in locked position with respect to the sides 10 and 11 and the risers 21.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that suitable mortar is desirably positioned in the notches 14 prior to and after the hereinbefore described assembly procedure so that upon setting the construction becomes substantially integral. In this respect the ends of the keys 27 may be covered and the surface of the mortar finished to correspond with the surface plane of the sides 10 and 11, thereby completely concealing the only means of assembly visible from the exterior of the precast step construction.

It will thus be seen that the several objects of the invention have been met by the precast concrete step construction disclosed herein.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is:

In a precast step construction including a pair of spaced side sections having fiat outer and inner sides and having their front and top surfaces formed in a plurality of steps, the flat inner sides of each of said side sections having vertical channels formed therein adjacent each of the front surfaces thereof, and each of the top surfaces thereof having transverse notches therein, the opposite sides of which are undercut, a plurality of risers, the ends of which are bifurcated to form extending sections, one

Patented Nov. 8, 1955' 4 of each of said extending sections being longer than the References Cited in the file of this patent other and having an inturned flange thereon, said extend- UNITED STATES PATENTS end to b t' el a ed 'd ert' a1 mg Secl 95 8 respec 1V Y 8 1n Sal v 10 937,984 Brown Oct- 1909 channels and overlying said front and outer side surfaces of said side sections, a plurality of treads, each of which 5 1124065 Savldge 1915 has a depending longitudinally extending central section 1,879,996 Sherwood SePt- 1932 with rod-like extensions thereon, said rod-like extensions engaged in said transverse notches and means in said notches engaged in said undercuts to retain said rod-like extensions therein. 10 

